The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 139: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= alee THE GOLD DELUGE. 139 woods of dwarf trees when the aurora australis flashed in the skies and the sea lay before us, smooth as a mirror! Not one sound stirred the peace, not a bird sang; the rare polar fish and the dumb seals were the only living beings besides our party. At such times one is so seriously i1mpressed-—it carries one so far from all thoughts of strife. We shall never forget the country we ought never have left.’’ ; ‘“You are right, but we dad toleave. Remember we return with a second great discovery—that of the uninhabited islands of the polar regions, where never before human foot has touched. What else has fate ordained me for? I feel I am one of the few selected by it as men of destiny. Keep up your courage, dear wife ; we must go onward, no matter by which circuitous route we reach our goal. We must never despair.’’ x 2 # x * 2 x The open sea ! : A hoarse shout of joy from the entire crew greeted the narrow strip of blue, shimmering far on the horizon. ‘The ice now became so thin that the Chemeia could easily cut her way through with her sharp prow. A few days later they saw the sun sink for the first time since they had left civilized re- gions. ‘The night, or rather the twilight; lasted only half an hour, but it was nevertheless proof that they were much farther north. They intended to stop at Montevideo, to take in a new supply of coal and food. From South America they would proceed direct to Europe. _ A few minutes south of the polar circle the first whaler appeared. ‘The Chemeia sounded her whistle and lay to, while the crew waved their caps. ‘‘ Have you potatoes ?’’ was Kelly’s first question. He was an Irishman, and had missed these vegetables more than the others. ‘What do you wish?’’ came back from the strange ship. It was an Argentine vessel, and Calandro had to be called to act as interpreter. ‘“ Have you potatoes ?’’ he asked. ‘“Yes,’’ they replied ; ‘‘ some.’’ ‘“ Ask them how much a bushel,’’ Kelly suggested. ‘How much a bushel ?’’ Calandro called over. ‘Ten pounds sterling.’’ | ‘“ Great Scott !’’ Kelly exclaimed. ‘‘ Are they insane?’’ ‘‘ Ten pounds ! Two hundred reichsmark !’’ Mueller mumbled. ‘‘ Hundred and eighty kronen for a bushel of potatoes!’’ Peter said, and laughed were Hrik now appeared and showed great excitement. ‘‘ Ask them whether that is the regular price now, and whether all other articles have risen as much.”’ Calandro obeyed. Ten pounds sterling was very cheap, they said, and that was the only thing poor people could afford ; everything was much dearer. The world had become so flooded with money during the last year that its value had sunk to zero: Gold had no worth, while real estate, on the other hand, had bounded to enormous heights. All, all was due to the cursed Englishmen who were sending a perfect deluge of gold into the world. No one could sur- COMMICLDOOLES (E@)